This is Lee's second Oscar win for best director. His first was for 'Brokeback Mountain' in 2006. He was nominated in 2000 for directing 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' as well.

'Life of Pi,' adapted from Yann Martel's novel about an Indian boy shipwrecked with a tiger, received four Oscars Sunday night out of its 11 nominations. The other awards were Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Visual Effects, but the Best Direction win was the most highly anticipated.

In Mamaroneck, not far from Lee's home in Larchmont, people were enthusiastic about having local talent receive such acclaim once again.

"I wish him the best of luck; I hope he wins," Joe Niglio said Sunday afternoon. "It would be nice to have a director from here win this Oscar."

"He is a quality director, and it's great to equate him with Larchmont," Li Hung said. "His movies have a lot of depth and insight. Through that, he's already making a big impact. He knows how to transcend the boundaries between Eastern and Western cultures."